Raging driver leads RCMP on manhunt

A string of incidents led West Shore RCMP to spend several hours pursuing a suspect on Sunday.

Police had received information that a man was driving under the influence of drugs, had pointed a shotgun at a member of the public and was posing an ongoing significant risk to other motorists.

The original complainant identified the suspect and his vehicle, and stated that the man was behaving aggressively and was believed to be under the influence of drugs. At approximately 3:50 p.m. on Sunday, West Shore RCMP spotted the vehicle travelling on the Trans Canada Highway near Aspen Road off the Malahat and attempted to stop the suspect, who sped off. Officers chose not to pursue based on traffic volume and patterns at that time.

At around 6 p.m. police received a complaint that a man driving a similar vehicle had pointed a shotgun at another driver during a “road rage” incident. Officers located the vehicle in the area of Leigh Road and Goldstream Avenue in Langford. Once again, officers tried to stop the vehicle but the driver fled, reaching speeds of up to 140 km/h once out on the Trans Canada Highway.

A short time later the man surrendered to police without incident, after becoming stuck in traffic on Island Highway near Wale Road in Colwood. Officers recovered a shotgun and a large knife from the vehicle.

Still later, West Shore RCMP received information that a similar vehicle had backed into another vehicle, repeatedly at the intersection of Jacklin Road and Jenkins Avenue just before 6 p.m. Sunday. The driver of the second vehicle sought medical treatment for whiplash at a hospital and was released.

The arrested man, well-known to police, was held in custody and was due in Western Communities Provincial Court on Monday to face firearms, dangerous driving, drugs and other Criminal Code charges.